Writing device



Dec. 3, 1929. H. 1. MORRIS 1,737,862

WRITING DEVICE Original Filed Dec. 29. 1921 Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOWARD I. MORRIS, OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR IO THE "YODER PENCIL COII- PANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO WRITING DEVICE Original application filed December 29, 1921, Serial No. 525,585. Divided and this application filed November 17, 1924.

This invention relates to a writing device, such as a pencil, more particularly that type of pencil in which the writing element or lead is fed endwise relative to the writing end of the holder or body portion of the device.

One object of the invention is to provide a pencil of this type having a self feeding writing element or lead.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved pencil in which means are provided for automatically feeding the writ ing element or lead endwise relative to the holder or body portion of the device.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates from the following de scription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a writing device or pencil embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3, 4, and 6 are sectional views (Fig. 4 being similar to Fig. 3, but enlarged) illustrating the operation of feeding the lead forward.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 77 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 7 but showing a slightly different form of construction.

In the drawings, 1" indicates a body or holder preferably comprising a barrel, cylinder or shell 2 having at one end a tapered or conical member 3": the adjoining ends of these elements are preferably cut away to permit the latter to telescope within the barrel,

*the telescoping*portions'being provided with screw threads so that the elements may be fixedly connected together.

4 indicates a contracting member prefer-' ably disposed between the joined ends of the barrel 2 and 133.11 ered member 3. The contracting member 4" fits against the shoulder 2 provided by the cutaway in the barrel 2". The contracting member 4" preferably has screw thread connection with the screw threads on the inner wall of the barrel 2". The contracting member 4 comprises a ring member to permit certain elements, to be later Serial No. 750,277.

The guide element 5 is slidably mounted in the outer end of the tapered member 3 and is moved endwise therein to feed the writing element 6, as will be later described. The

inner wall of the tapered member 3", adjacent its outer end, is preferably of cylindrical shape to form a relatively long bearing for the guide element 5". 28 indicates a collar provided on the outer wall of the guide element 5'. 8 indicates a spring, preferably of the coiled type, interposed between the collar 28 and the contracting member 4 and tending to move the guide element in a longitudinal direction outwardly relative to the writing end of the holder 1". As shown, the guide element 5 normally projects beyond the outer end of the tapered member 3" (being held in such position by the spring 8') but when moved inwardly it compresses the spring 8.

7 indicates a plunger or feed member arranged axially of the lead 6" and in engagement with its inner end and adapted to feed the lead 6 in the manner to be later set forth. The forward or lower end of the feed member 7 y is supported in the guide element 5 or by the controlling devices 19". The opposite end of the feed member 7 is preferably provided with a head or thrust plate 10", fixed thereto in any desired manner. 8 indicates a spring engaging the head 10 and normally tending to propel the feed member 7" endwise longitudinally of and toward the writing end of the holder 1". The spring 8 engages the plate 10? at one end and at its opposite end engages an abutment 9 mounted in the barrel 2. The abutment may comprise a ring having screw threaded connection with the inner wall of projecting therefrom to serve as an erasure.

The devices 19'. operate to control the operation of the feed member 7 b to insure endwise feed of the lead forwardly relative. to the outer end of the guide element 5".

The controlling devices 19 preferably comprise a pair of gripping members 21 connected to the inner end of theguide element 5", being'preferably integrally connected therewith and formed by slitting the wall of the guide element inwardly. The metal of which the guide element and gripping members are formed is resilient so that the latter will normally tend to move outwardly or away from each other after being contracted.

. The gripping members 21 are dlsposed upon opposite sides of the feed member and normally out of engagement therewithsee Figs. 4 and 5. The free ends of the gripping members are bent inwardly to" insure positive engagement with the feed member 7". The gripping members 21 extend through the contractin member 4 and are so ar ranged that w en the guide element 5 is in its normol position at the end of its out ward movement under the influence of the spring 8'-the contracting member 4" will maintain the gripping members 21* in engagement with the feed member 7 b and prevent endwise movement thereof outwardly. As the gripping members 21 are connected to the guide ,element 5", they will move with the guide element when it moves inwardly relative to the holder 1". -When the guide element 5 moves the gripping members inwardly, their free ends will be allowed to expand out of engagement with the feed member 7"- see Figs. 3 and 4:. Upon the return of the guide element 5" under the influence of the spring 8, the gripping members 21 will be drawn downwardly and contracted into engagement with the feed member 7 as shown in Fig. 6. The free ends of the gripplng members 21 may be provided with prpjections, which may be pointed as shown 1n Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, or formed with concave portions as shown in Fig. 8, to grip the feed 'member 7.

In order that the gripping members 21 may quickly disen age and re-engage the feed member 7 t eir outer portions are bulged or formed with outwardly curved sections 23? which serve as cams to engage and disengage the cam wall 24 of the contracting member 4", whereby relative quick movelower portions of gripping members to be arranged parallel to each other, whereby they may be moved with the contracting member a certain distance without being operated, and (2) insures their expansion during the first part of the movement of the guide element inwardly and their contraction near the end of the movement of the guide element outwardly, thereby providing proper and most effective control of the feed member 7 in the complete operation of pressing the holder 1 toward the surface and relievlng such pressure. By the sliding engagement of the ilpping members 21" with the inner wall o t e contracting member 4", it will be seen that the inner end of the guide element 5" is at all times supported axially of the holder 1*.

The construction and operation of the controlling devices 19 is such that the feed of the lead is automatic and substantially constant and proportionate to the amount of 3 lead which wears away as writing continues or progresses. In the use of this construction of pencil, I prefer, in writing therewith, to keep both the lead 6 and the outer end of the guide element 5" in contact with the paper, the outer end of the guide element being rounded to permit of this engagement without undue friction. It will be noted that the spring 8 is at all times acting on the feed member 7 to move it and the lead 6 forwardly. It will also be seen that as Writing on a surface progresses, the wearing away of the lead will permit pressure to be exerted on the guide element 5, causing the latter to recede or move inwardly against the tension of thespring 8 and through the gripping members 21 to release the feed member and permit it to feed the lead forwardly.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that by reason of the contact of the guide element 5 with the paper or surface during the writing operation, the gripping members 21 are maintained in a substantially inoperative position and the lead is fed forwardly by the springS". When the encil is lifted due to the ending of a wor crossing ts and-dotting is, etc., the spring 8' moves the guide element outwardly and causes the, gripping membus 21 to engage the feed member 7" to arrest its outward movement. Accordingly it will be seen that the lead 6 is constantly fed forward as fast as it Wears away but is properly controlled when the pencil is disengaged from seen that theconstruction of pencil including the feed mechanism for the lead is relatively sim 1e and comprises but few elements all 0? whichfmay be easily manufactured and assembled. It will. also be seen that these elements are so arranged that the lead may feed. forwardly in a ready manner without shiftin the or any. other manlpulation of the pencil or either hand' of the writer or user. By controlling and operating the feeding mechanism as described, the user is saved the annoyance of stopping his work to manipulate the. lead as is required in all pencils of which I have knowledge.

The pencil is particularly advantageous where continuous writin is required or where the writing must be e ected rapidly, as in taking dictation in shorthand.

By feeding the lead automatically as writing takes place, due to pressure of the hand in writing'great convenience is afforded the writer as no attneiton is needed to maintain sufficient lead for continued writing.

It will further be seen that new leads may be inserted in a simple manner and without the necessity of disassembly of any of the elements.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates, many alterations in construction and widely diflering embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing. from the spirit and scope thereof. My disclosuresand description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended .to be in any sense limiting.

This application is a division of my original application filed December 29, 1921, Serial N0. 525,585.

What I claim is: v

1. In a pencil, the combination of a. body, a tubular guide member for a section of lead slidably mounted in said body, a feed member for the section of lead, means tending to move said guide member and feed member outwardly, but permitting relative movement between them, and means correlated to prevent outward movement of said feed member when said moving means is free to act thereon and on said guide member, but arranged to release said feed member when movement of said guide member relative to said feed member is effected.

2. In a pencil, the combination of a hollow body,a tubular element for receiving and supporting a section of lead, said element being encil in the hand slidable endwise in one open end of said body I and adapted to project beyond such end for engagement with the writing surface, a feed element engaging the lead to feed it outwardly through said tubular element, a device carried by said tubular element arranged to engage the feed element when said tubular element is moved outwardly and to disengage said feed element when said tubular element is moved inwardly, and a pair of springs each engaging one of said elements and normally tending to move it outwardly.

3. In a pencil, the combination of a body, a pair of concentrically arranged relatively movable elements normally projecting be yond one end of said body, the inner' element comprising a section of lead and'the outer element being slidably mounted in said bodyfa pair of springs each acting on one of said elements to move it outwardly, and a pair of devices correlated to limit the outward movements of said elements but arranged to release said inner element when said outer element moves inwardly .relative thereto.

4. In a pencil, the combination of a body, a pair of concentrically arranged relatively movable elements normally projecting beyond one end of said body, the inner element comprising a section of lead and the outer element being slidably mounted in said body, a pair of springs each acting on one of said elements to move it outwardly, and means for limiting the outward movement of said eleyond one end of said body, the inner elementcomprising a section of lead and the outer outer element being slidably mounted in said body, a pair of springs each acting on one of said elements to move it outwardly, and means for limiting the outward movements of said elements but arranged to release the inner element when said outer element moves inwardly relative thereto, said'means comprising a pair of resilient gripping members carrie by said outer element and a cam carried by said body and positioned to actuate said members as the outer element moves outwardly.

6. In a pencil, the combination of a body, a pair of concentrically arranged relatively movable elements normally projecting beyond one end of said body, the inner element comprising. a section of lead and the outer element being slidably mounted in said body,

a pair of springs each operating on one of said elements to move;it outwardly, a pair of devices correlated to limit the outwardmovements of said elements but arranged to means for adjusting thespring which acts on said lead. I

7. In a pencil, the combination of a hollow body adapted to support a lead with its outer end projecting from oneend thereof, a feed member engaging the lead, a coiled spring acting on said feed member'to move it longitudinally of said body, means for controlling the movement of said feed member, and a tubular member mounted in the upper ends of said body and disposed within said coiled spring for holding extra leads.

8. n a pencil, the combination of a body, a pair of relatively movable elements slidably mounted in and projecting beyond one end of said body, one element comprising a section of lead, a spring tending to move each of said elements outwardly, and a pair of members carried by the other element and said body, respectively, and correlated to prevent outward movement of the lead when the last mentioned element is acted upon by its spring. 9. In a pencil, the combination of a body adapted to support a lead with its outer end projecting from one end thereof, a feed member engaging the lead, a spring acting on said feed member to move it outwardly, a device normally projecting beyond the writing end of said body and mounted therein to move inwardly and outwardly, a spring tending to Inaintain'said device in normal position, a gripping member carried by said device arranged to engage an disengage said feed member, and a cam positioned to cause the gripping member to engage said feed member as it moves to its normal position.

10. In a pencil, the combination of a body adapted to support a lead with its outer end pro ecting from one end thereof, a feed member engaging the lead, a spring acting on said feed member to move it outwardly, a tubular member serving as a guide for the lead normally projecting beyond the writing end of said body and mounted therein to move inwardly and outwardly, a spring tending to maintin said guide member in normal position, a gripping member carried by said guide member arranged to engage and disengage said feed member, and a cam positioned to cause the gripping member to engage said feed member as it moves to its normal position. I

11. In a pencil, the combination with the casing thereof having an opening therein-at the writing end of the pencil; of a marking rod projecting through said opening; and mechanism governed by the object being written upon for feeding the marking rod,

said feeding mechanism being operable to feed the rod while it contacts with said object.

12. In a lead pencil, the combination of a holder, a lead carrying tube slidably mounted in said holder with one end projecting beyond the writing end thereof, a propelling.

device fitting in the inner end of said tube and engaging the inner end of the lead, means normally acting on said device to propel the lead through the tube,and clutch, means carried by said tube and arranged to engage said propelling device to lock it against outward movement, but releasable therefrom upon movement of said tube inwardly due to its engagement with a surface under the influence of normal writing pressure.

13. In a pencil, the combination of a body, a pair of relatively movable elements slidably mounted in and normally projecting beyond one end of said body for substantially simultaneous engagement with a surface as writing thereon progresses, one of said elements comprising a section of lead, a spring acting on and normally tending to move each of said taneous engagement with a surface, one of said elements comprising a section of lead and the other element comprising a tube through which the lead extends, and means operable by the movement of said tube reiative to said lead for feeding the latter outwardly.

15. In a pencil, the combination with a casing; of a marking rod; a guide within and movable longitudinally -of the casing and provided for the marking rod that projects beyond the outer end of its guide, said guide projecting at this end thereof through an opening provided in said casing at the writing end of the pencil to be engageable with the object written upon; a follower rod within the casing and in abutting engagement with the inner end of the marking rod; a clutch disposed within and mounted upon the casing and in gripping relation to the follower rod; spring mechanism pressing upon the clutch in a direction to grip the follower rod ice 

